Neighboring Counties

Resources

Bible Records

The term "Bible records" refers to the practice of keeping family dates and events in a family Bible. This was a common practice in many European countries and carried over to America. Many of these family Bible records are still in existence and preserved by the descendants of the immigrants. In some cases these family Bibles have found their way into libraries and other repositories.

Biography

Biographies(microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

If you did not find a person or family in a census, check county indexes. Created by people familiar with the unique names of the area, county indexes may be in book form, in periodicals, or even on index cards in libraries.

Churches and Religious Groups

Church Records(microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

Directories

Directories(microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

Gazetteers

Genealogy

Rees, Nesta, When the Parry Saints Went Marching Out. The author traces the John Parry family from Newmarket to Salt Lake City. Family Trees illustrated the article and a picture of a headstone, in SLC, showing John and wife Harriet, with year dates, and born North Wales. John worked as a mason on the Salt Lake Temple. Article in Hel Achau, #29, Christmas, 1989, pages 22-25. Family History Library book 942.93 D25h

Genealogies(microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

Histories(microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

History Timeline

1825. The first US explorer in the Salt Lake area is believed to be Jim Bridger.

1843. U.S. Army officer John C. Frémont surveyed the Great Salt Lake and the Salt Lake Valley.

1846. The Donner party, a group of ill-fated pioneers, traveled through the Great Salt Lake Valley in August.

1847. Salt Lake County was settled when Mormon pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.

1847. On July 29, 1847 a group of Mormon pioneers, known as the Mississippi Company, among them John Holladay of Alabama, entered the Salt Lake Valley. Within weeks, they discovered a free-flowing, spring-fed stream, which they called Spring Creek, now known as Holladay.

1849. Herriman was established by Robert Dansie, Henry Harriman, and Thomas Jefferson Butterfield. A monument in the Herriman City Cemetery lists the original four families of Herriman as the Thomas Jefferson Butterfield, John Jay Stocking, Robert Cowan Petty, and Henry Harriman families.

1849. The Mormon pioneers organized a new state called Deseret and petitioned for its recognition.

1850. The U.S. Congress rebuffed the settlers petition and established the Utah Territory, and designated Fillmore as its capital city.

1850.March 3. Salt Lake County was created as an original county.

1853. Construction started on The Salt Lake Temple.

1857. The territorial capital was moved to Great Salt Lake City, when the name was shortened to Salt Lake City.

1862.Fort Douglas was established on the east bench, near the University of Utah, to make sure that the territory maintained its allegiance during the American Civil War.

1865. Alta was founded.

1868.January 29: The original county name Great Salt Lake County was shortened to Salt Lake County.

1878. An 1878 fire and an 1885 avalanche destroyed most of the original mining town of Alta.

Historical Facts

The area that was to become Salt Lake County was settled in 1847 when Mormon Pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, fleeing persecution in the East, arrived in the Salt Lake Valley after traveling through Emigration Canyon. Brigham Young, their leader, declared "This is the right place" after seeing the valley, which was at the time arid, dry, and unpromising. However, they soon developed a flourishing, self-sufficient city, Great Salt Lake City, through extensive irrigation techniques. Thousands of Mormons from around the world followed in the next several decades. The county was officially formed on January 31, 1850, with just over 11,000 residents recorded.

Some Land Claim books covering 1871-1894 and a Land Title Docket covering 1871-1891 are included in the FamilySearch Historical Records collection entitled "Utah, State Archives".

One example listing ownership is:

Morgan, Nicholas G. Pioneer Map: Great Salt Lake City, Great Basin, North America. N.p.: 1851?. (Family History Library FHL fiche 6051237; map 979.225 E7man.) This map includes historical data and index to names of original owners and their locations by lot or lots and blocks. The index to this map consists of names of major land owners in various Salt Lake City LDS wards.

Maps

Maps(microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

Minorities

Minorities(microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

On the following GenWeb link you will find the summary of the Court Petitions Index, volumes 1 - 9. In each index volume you will find the name of the petitioner, place of birth, location of court, volume and page number. As an example click on volume 1. Click on volumes 2 - 8 on the Court Petition Index.

Utah. District Court. (Salt Lake County). Naturalization Records 1853–1936, index 1858–1980, Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah State Archives and Records Service 1980–1981, 1989–1990. FHL 1643989 (first film of 61) An index covering territorial and district courts from about 1858–1980 is on the first film in the series. It includes most northern Utah counties. Also in the series is declarations and petitions from 1851–1936. The territorial minutes indexed in this record are found in:

Utah. District Court. (Salt Lake County). Court Minutes, 1858–1920. Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah State Archives and Records Service, 1981–1982. FHL film 1654506 (first film of 33) These early minutes include naturalizations which are arranged chronologically in each volume.

Newspapers

Small town newspapers contain obituaries, birth or death notices, community news (such as the visit of someone's relatives), legal notices and provide historical content. See Utah newspapers for tips, resources, and details. Small town newspapers contain obituaries, birth or death notices, community news (such as the visit of someone's relatives), legal notices and provide historical content. See Utah newspapers for tips, resources, and details.

Utah Digital Newspapers Project presents newspaper images online. Search All Newspapers by name or keywords, or Browse by County to view all newspapers digitized for Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy.

BYU Digital Collections has Vol 41 of Woman's Exponet and a description/history of this which ran June 1, 1872-Feb 1914. Click on Newspapers in right hand box.

Newspapers(microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

Obituaries

Obituaries may mention birth, marriage, spouse, parents, and living family members. See Utah Obituaries for state level compendiums and United States Obituaries for tips and insights regarding this record type.

Obituaries(microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

Websites for death records in the state of Utah and specifically for Salt Lake County include:

From the GenWeb site (scroll down from the top of the page) you will find individual obituaries, obituaries from the Desert News (2004 - 2005 selected months), and from the Salt Lake Tribune (2004 - 2005 selected months).

Utah, Salt Lake County Death Records, 1908-1949. This title is misleading, because all the deaths were recorded in the City of Salt Lake City. There are no deaths recorded in any other places within the county in this County Death Records group.

[Utah Death Certificates (FamilySearch Historical Records)|Utah Death Certificates 1904-1956]: A free internet access to the 1904-1956 death certificates can be viewed at certificates. Utah requires a death certificate before a burial is completed. A death certificate may contain information as to the name of the deceased, date of death, and place of death, as well as the age, birthdate, parents, gender, marital status, spouse and place of residence.

Occupations

Occupations(microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

In Utah, such records may be difficult to find. Try records of the church they may have attended. Realize, however, that such records may have not been preserved, and would not be in the typical records of membership.

It is possible there were records kept by civilian authorities. Ask town or county officials and local librarians and the State Archives. Also try National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (online).

Public Records

Public Records(microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

Vital Records

Vital Records(microfilmed originals or published transcripts) are listed in the FamilySearch Library Catalog for Salt Lake County, Utah Genealogy. For other libraries (local and national) or to gain access to items of interest, see public libraries.

See also neighboring counties for birth information, due to family members living in that area, religious preferences, convenience, and other reasons.

Birth 1890 - present

Though not required to do so, Salt Lake City began registering births in 1890.

County clerks became responsible for recording births beginning in 1898. In 1905, the State Department of Health assumed responsibility and required the counties to forward copies of the records to them.

It took a few years after the requirements for people, doctors, midwives, and officials to comply, so some early birth registrations were missed.

Records open to the public

Birth records created more than 100 years agoState Department of Health Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates page. are open to the public.

1890-1950 Salt Lake City birth records through Salt Lake Valley Health Department. You will find parents' names, child's date of birth, and the child's name, if known. Later records show age of parents, address, etc.

1898-1905Index to Series 3922 (Online, free) Published by Utah State Archives. This is for Salt Lake County. However, there is some overlap with the Salt Lake City records. You will find names of parents and child (if known) and the child's date of birth.

Marriage

Marriage registers from 1887 through 1950's microfilmed and then destroyed. Microfilm copy available at the Family History Library and centers. Microfilm copy is not available at the county clerk's office.

1847-1929 - 58,919 marriages from 1847 to 18 September 1929 are listed on the Western States Marriage Index. Index is incomplete as there are few civil government recorded marriages in Salt Lake County prior to 1887. Many entries were taken from alternative sources, such as Elias Smith's journal. Some early divorce records were also indexed and included. This is not a complete database. Linkpendium contributors list marriage year span as 1888 to 1970.[11]

1887–1965 — Salt Lake County (Utah). County Clerk. Marriage Records, 1887–1965. [12]The first 18 films index the licenses and certificates. These records have been indexed in the Early Church Information File up to 1914.

There is an additional index from 1887 to 1987 available on fiche:

1887–1987 — Salt Lake County (Utah). County Clerk. Alphabetic Marriage Listing 1887–1987. [13]There are 24 fiche for each number. The first set of fiche is an index to the grooms and the second is an index to the brides. These will lead you to the above record.

Divorce

1852–1856, 1877–1887 — Utah. Probate Court (Salt Lake County) Divorce Records, 1852–1856, 1877–1887. Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1966. FHL film 431227 This record is unindexed and is in chronological order. It gives names of each spouse and reason for separation or divorce, and date of court action.

Death

Copies of death records and indexes for Salt Lake City and County are available at the Family History Library.

1897–1905 — Salt Lake County (Utah). County Clerk. Register of Deaths, Salt Lake County, Book A, 1897–1905. [15]These records are for the county only and do not have Salt Lake City death records. They are indexed. The record gives name, birth and death information, address or city of residence, and sometimes burial information.

Libraries

Salt Lake City Public Library has many resources for history and genealogy, such copies of local newspapers and much more. While many libraries in Utah have an area dedicated to local collections and manuscripts, this is exceptional.